Following a senior management shake-up that saw its chief executive and commercial chief step down, Cathay Pacific has also appointed a new head of its low-cost subsidiary HK Express. Cathay veteran Mandy Ng, who has been with the operator for 17 years, takes over as HK Express chief executive with immediate effect, following the departure of Ronald Lam to the post of Cathay chief customer and commercial officer. Ng began her career at Cathay as a management trainee in 1999, before working in planning, revenue and sales departments within the airline. She was most recently general manager of business development at Swire Pacific. Swire Group wholly owns Cathay Pacific. Former Cathay chief Rupert Hogg and former customer and commercial chief Paul Loo disclosed their resignation on 16 August, amid mounting scrutiny of the airline from China. Hogg is succeeded by Augustus Tang, who has been with the Swire Group since 1982 and was most recently chief executive of Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company (HAECO), a post he held since November 2008.

Source: FlightGlobal

Sao Paulo-based Ocean Air Linhas Aereas, which operated as Avianca Brasil, will leave the Star Alliance network of airlines effective 1 September, following several months of bankruptcy proceedings and the withdrawal of its air operations certificate by regulators in Brazil. Star Alliance chief executive Jeffrey Goh says in the announcement on 19 August that the exit of Avianca Brasil "in no way affects the membership of Avianca SA, our valued member based in Bogota, Colombia". Avianca Brasil filed for bankruptcy protection in December 2018. Brazil's civil aviation regulator ANAC grounded the airline in May over "safety concerns" and cancelled the carrier's certificate in June.

Source: FlightGlobal

Cathay Pacific chief executive Rupert Hogg has resigned, days after the airline was embroiled in controversy over crew members taking part in anti-government protests. In a stock-exchange disclosure, the airline states that Hogg resigned "to take responsibility" as Cathay's leader. No further reason was disclosed. Also stepping down is Cathay's chief customer and commercial officer Paul Loo, who gave a similar reason for his resignation. Both Loo and Hogg also relinquish their roles as executive directors on the Cathay board. Taking over as the Oneworld carrier's chief will be Augustus Tang, who has been with Swire Group — Cathay's majority shareholder — since 1982. Tang was most recently chief executive of Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company (HAECO), a post he held since November 2008. Tang was also an executive director on the Cathay board from 2007 to 2008. Meanwhile, HK Express chief Ronald Lam will replace Loo as Cathay's chief customer and commercial officer. Lam has been with Swire since 1996. He will continue to helm the low-cost carrier while the search for his successor is under way. The leadership changes take effect 19 August.


Source: FlightGlobal